Bermuda’s swimmers got their Carifta Swimming Championships off to a blistering start in Nassau, Bahamas at the weekend.

At press time last night the island’s 15-strong contingent had secured 18 medals at the Betty Kelly-Kenning National Aquatic Centre, including seven gold.

The overall medal haul at last check was three shy of the 21 Bermuda earned at last year’s Carifta Swimming Championships in Martinique. The team’s seven gold medals is also two shy of last year’s haul of nine.

Leading the medal charge at the weekend was Payton Zelkin who already has six medals under her belt, including three gold.

She won the gold in the girls 11-12 400 metre individual medley, 200 metre freestyle and another as a member of Bermuda’s victorious 4x100 metres relay team that also included Elan Daley, Jessica Bruton and Taylor White.

Zelkin also won silver in the breaststroke and 50 metre backstroke and bronze in the 50 metre butterfly.

Daley won gold in the girls 11-12 50 backstroke to go with the gold medal she won with the island’s 4x100 metre relay team as well as silver in the 50 metre butterfly and bronze in the 400 metre individual medley.

Daley’s brother Ethan took the silver in the boys 15-17 400 metre individual medley.

Jesse Washington won gold in the boys 15-17 200 metre freestyle and silver in the 100 metre butterfly.

Sam Williamson won gold in the boys 11-12 breaststroke and 400 metre individual medley as well as silver in the 200 metre freestyle.

Madelyn Moore won silver in the 15-17 backstroke.

Logan Watson-Brown won silver in the girls 13-14 200 metre freestyle and Taylor White silver in the girls 11-12 100 metre backstroke.

The championships continue today in Nassau.